Police believe shootings related to domestic violence

Neighbors upset with lack of information.

Neighbors upset with lack of information.

March 03, 2006|ALICIA GALLEGOS Tribune Staff Writer

SOUTH BEND -- Driving by the yellow crime tape still strung around her neighbor's home on Lilac Road, Tracy Junge has wondered for days about the tragic events that unfolded inside. "You have the question of, 'now what?'" she said. "I haven't heard anything. They kind of just went blank on the information." Authorities on Thursday finally released new information in the shooting death of 46-year-old John Frank Puchala, who was found dead in his home Feb. 24 along with an injured woman, 32-year-old Dana McCloud. St. Joseph County Metro Homicide Unit Commander Tim Corbett told The Tribune on Thursday that investigators are looking at the shooting "as a domestic violence situation," and stressed that only Puchala and McCloud are believed to be involved. "We have no information to indicate other than two people were involved," he said. An autopsy was completed on Puchala this week, but a manner of death has yet to be ruled pending toxicology tests, Corbett said. It was released earlier that the man died of a gunshot wound. McCloud remains hospitalized with a gunshot wound to the head. Her exact condition was unclear. Police received a 911 call from the woman at 11:03 p.m. Feb. 24, saying she had been shot and needed help. She was taken to Memorial Hospital, where she underwent emergency surgery the following morning. Corbett said McCloud is not a suspect in any type of crime "whatsoever." Meanwhile, area neighbors can't fathom that the shootings happened along quiet Lilac Road. "It's just a crazy thing," said Jared Dahms. "I can't believe it happened in this neighborhood." Dahms had spoken to Puchala only a handful of times since he was a child, he said, including an incident where he accidentally broke Puchala's window playing basketball. "I'd be kind of interested to know what really happened (to him)," he said. Some neighbors have been wondering if the shooting was random and fearing for their safety. "I'm like, 'Oh God, over here?' I was shocked," said Shelly Johnson, mother of four small children. "I thought this was a safe neighborhood." But Corbett wants to assure residents that the incident was isolated. "They should feel no differently about their neighborhood then they did before," he said.Staff writer Alicia Gallegos: agallegos@sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6368